A little chalk. A lot of imagination.

There is something about the infinite possibilities of a chalkboard. I’m not sure if it’s a throwback to my school days or those of my kids, but something about a chalkboard makes me want to pick up a piece of colored chalk and creatively express myself in all shades of the rainbow. One of my favorite pieces of office furniture is a little kids oak easel chalkboard with the alphabet neatly scrolled at the bottom, numbers one through ten at the top, and little white squares for training children to write their letters in neat little rows. I like to use it to sketch out ideas, make action lists, or catalog my dreams and (admittedly) ignore the straight lines altogether.

My hunch is that my fondness for chalkboards comes from working with my children when they were little and helping them discover the joy of self expression. There is also something quite liberating about removing something that once was, and replacing it with something yet to be.

Kind of like the act of raising children, in and of itself.

My children are grown. My work as a parent done. Right? Not quite. At the risk of sounding like a helicopter parent, I must confess to still actively feeling my children’s pain and joy as they journey through life. There is a quote accredited to Janet Reder, St. Xavier High School that says “ A mother is only as happy as her saddest child.” Ouch. It only hurts because it’s so true. I’m sure there are many other mothers that can too. Sometimes I think it must be easier to be a “Catch & Release” type of parent. Have your children for a little while, enjoy their beauty, and then set them out into their natural environment to weather the storms of life using their own free will. I’m not judging. Just comparing. And regardless of what I may wish, I am wired for worry. It’s in my DNA.

When my daughter calls about a job loss or one of my grown sons has a breakup or one of them encounters some other painful life experience, my heart feels the sting and my happiness quotient drops a measure. Not forever, mind you, but for an appropriate grieving period. What’s great is that the reverse also occurs when they call to share good news. My heart swells when they land a new job, complete a difficult journey, or realize a dream. But great accomplishments are fleeting. Just like hardships.

I’ve tried hard not to be a “braggy” parent. Not that my kids aren’t brag-worthy but because most parents tend to see the potential for greatness in their children and can find it, sometimes, even in the smallest accomplishments. And rightly so. I see our lives not as landmarks of events, the highs and lows, I see them as organic, constantly evolving and changing. And I see each of my children as agents of change with the potential for greatness. Their greatness may not mean they will be the next President, movie star, or inventor but I use a more conventional yardstick. My measure is simple. My hope is pure.

• Love someone with all your heart.
• Have great compassion for those who are suffering.
• Tenderly care for the helpless, whether in human or animal form.
• And do something, anything, to make this world a little better than you found it.

Although I can’t protect them from life’s turbulent waters or ensure smooth sailing, I can serve as a refuge. A shoulder to cry on. An encouraging word. A cheerleader of the most spirited kind to celebrate their accomplishments. And a lifelong hand to hold onto.

Chalk it up! chalkboard project

This upcylcd craft is a custom made chalkboard made from a discarded cabinet door. I often find mismatched or extra pieces at the Habitat for Humanity Restore in my home town. They have some great finds and this particular one was a perfect wood cabinet door of which there were no others. It was very simple to make and the steps follow below:

Step 1) Make sure the wood is clean of dust and dry.

Step 2) Apply a coat of your favorite color to the outside frame of the cabinet door. Let dry. Extra neat: I applied an under color of lime green first and then a bright blue so when I sanded the edges little bits of green would show through.

Step 3) Paint the inside of the cabinet door with black chalkboard paint. Let dry. Extra neat: You can use different color combinations of paint for the frame and the chalkboard paint also comes in a variety of colors. Use your imagination!

Step 4) Start creating!

Happy upcycling!